1. JESUS THE BRANCH OF THE ROD OF JESSE 5 (Isaiah 11:1-5)
a. The Righteous Branch.
Christ is spoken of as a Branch from David's family tree, born of the Virgin
Mary, of the lineage of David (Luke 2:4). He is righteous himself, unlike the
puppet king Zedekiah "the Righteousness of YHWH" (NOT!). Zedekiah went into
captivity, and the unrighteous line ended. Christ, YHWH Tsidkenu, was born of
a righteous side-shoot from the stump of the felled family tree of David. He
lived a perfect life of righteousness, and this righteousness is accounted to
all believers, as we have none of our own. "All have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
b. The Righteous King.
At his Second Coming, Christ will reign and prosper in righteousness and peace
upon the earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20). Judgment and Justice will
characterise his reign, not the repressive "Law and Order" of repressive
earthly regimes. Meanwhile we have peace with God through Christ, although we
meet enmity on earth.
2. JESUS THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS 6
a. Jesus as Man is our Saviour.
As a human being, born of the virgin Mary, Jesus saved Judah and Israel, and
the Gentiles, by dying for us the death penalty for our sin. In one day, Good
Friday, God made an end to sins in Christ (Daniel 9:24). His perfect sacrifice
was accepted for ours at his Resurrection and Ascension. If we let Christ
reign over us, then our souls are at peace with God, even if we at enmity with
the world.
b. Jesus as God is our LORD.
He is here spoken of as "YHWH our Righteousness." His death is our
Justification, and his righteousness is our Sanctification. And our
sanctification, as the source of all our personal obedience, is the effect of
our union with him, and of the supply of his Holy Spirit. Christ has died,
yea, rather is risen again; and we have taken him for our Lord. This
righteousness which he has wrought out to the satisfaction of law and justice,
becomes ours; being a free gift given to us, through the Spirit of God, who
puts it upon us, and clothes us with it. "The Lord our Righteousness" is a
sweet name to a convinced sinner; to one who has felt the guilt of sin in his
conscience; seen his need of that righteousness, and the worth of it.
3. JESUS THE LORD OUR LIFEGIVER 7-8
a. The Exodus Deliverance.
This was the standard miracle of the Old Testament, when the Passover
foreshadowed the forthcoming Lamb of God which would take away the sins of the
world (John 1:29).
b. The Exile Deliverance.
This was the second exodus, the Return from the Babylonian Captivity by the
Edict of Cyrus in 538 BC. A faithful remnant returned to Jerusalem to prepare
the way for the Coming of the Messiah.
c. The End-time Deliverance.
At the End-time, Christ will reign in person from Jerusalem. All Israel shall
be saved. "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and
they also who pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of
him. Even so, Amen" (Revelation 1:7). But even the Millennial City is not our
home. Our Promised Land is not here, but in heaven, in the New Jerusalem. "For
here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come" (Hebrews 13:14).
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In Christ,
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
